Material-handling apparatus



April 6 1926. 1,579,769

H. F. JONES MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed August 5 92 2 Sheets-Sheet l 77 Eg s Invenfim ffamZaEdones Patented Apr. 6, 1926;

UNITED STATES 1,579,769 PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD FRANK JONES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC QOMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK,- N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MATERIAL-HAN DLIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed August 5, 1924. Serial No. 730,153.

T all whom it may com/cm:

Be it known that I, HAROLD FRANK JoNEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Material-Handling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description.

This invent-ion relates to material handling apparatus, and more particularly to an improved spindle therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide .an improved spindle.

In accordance with one feature of the invention a spindle is provided which may be readily shifted into a plurality of latchable positions by a spring pressed member cooperating with a cam slot in the spindle housing to engage or disengage a spool or reel.

Various features of the invention not specifically mentioned will clearly appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a stranding machine with a spindle and-a guard embodying the present invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a guide pulley with the improved guard associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1' showing the improved spindle in greater detail;

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the shifting lever showing the spindle in its operative position while supporting a spool;

Fig. 6 is a similar view partly in elevation showing the lever and spindle in a retracted position;

Fig. 7 is a cross section through the spindle associated with the opposite side of the spool, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4 showing in detail the cam slot in the spindle housing.

In the drawings the invention is shown embodied in a stranding machine such as is used inv the manufacturing of telephone cables in which 10- indicates generally one unit of such a machine. A drum 11 is revolvably journaled in bearings 12 and 13 by hollow end trunnions 14 and 15 respectively.

The bearings 12 and 13 are rigidly supported on upright standards 16 and 17, respectively, which are reinforced by a cross member 18. Guide rings 19 and 20 are mounted on the drum 11 on opposite sides of the bearing 13 in such a position that the openings therein are in longitudinal alignment with the opening in the trunnion 15. A polisher 21 is supported on a bracket 22 secured to the standard 17. A pair of annular bands v23 are rigidly supported about the drum 11 and are provided with a plurality of equally spaced spindles 24 to be described in greater detail hereafter and on which a plurality of supply spools 25 are revolvably mounted. The periphery of the drum 11 comprises a plurality of equally spaced angle irons 26, there being one for each supply spool. Arms 27, carrying guide pulleys 28 are pivoted at 29 to the angle iron 26 and form part of a tension control mechanism for maintaining a substantially uniform tension upon the strands as they are withdrawn from the supply spools.

Since the stranding machine disclosed is of a well known type and forms no part of this invention, it is thought that a further detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the spindle 24 comprises a circular housing or support 32 provided with oppositely projecting ears 33 for supporting the housing upon the annular band 23, the ears being secured to the band 23 by screws 34. Slidably mounted within a longitudinal bore 35 formed in the housing 32 is a sleeve 36 provided with a shouldered longitudinal bore 37 within which is slidably mounted a spindle 38. The spindle 38, at one end, is reduced in diameter as indicated at 39, and the reduced portion is adapted to slide freely in a reduced portion 40 of the bore 37 of the sleeve 36. Upon the opposite end of the spindle 38, which is also reduced in diameter, as indicated at 42, is mounted an anti-friction roller bearing 43, the outer race member 44 of which supports a circular cap member 45 which is secured in position thereon by a collar 46 positioned behind a shoulder 47 formed on the spindle 38 and secured to the cap member 45 by screws 48. The outer peripheral surface of the cap member 45 .is tapered inwardly toward the axis of the spindle 38 for engaging the core of the spool 25 as clearly indicated in Fig. 5 at 49. Sup

ported upon the reduced portion 39 of the spindle 38 between the enlarged portion 50 thereof and a wall 51 formed by the reduced portion 40 of the bore 37 is a compression spring 52 which functions tonormally press the spindle 38 carrying the tapered cap member 45, into engagement with the core of the spool. The resiliently mounted spindle also functions to accommodate itself to slight variations in the width of the supply spools 25.

The housing 32 is provided with a, cam slot 55 formed in its peripheral surface intermediate the ears 33. (Figs. 4 and 8). Adapted to operate in the cam slot 55 is a lever 56 provided with a spring pressed handle 57. A compression spring 59 mounted around the lever 56 and between an internal shoulder formed in the handle 57 and a plug 60 screw threaded into the end of the handle 57 functions to prevent the lever from being'mo-ved by the action of centrifugal force during the operation of the strander, or otherwise. The inside end of the handle 57 rides upon an inclined sur face 61 (Fig. 8), when being moved to either its operative position as indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 in which the spindle 38 is shown supporting a spool or to its retracted position as indicated in Fig. 6 in which the spindle has been disengaged from the spool. When being moved from its retracted to its operative position the handle is moved up the inclined surface 61 and then drops into a depression 62 and also upon being moved to its retracted position the handle drops into a depression 63. The purpose of the depressions 62 and 63 is to prevent the accidental displacement of the handle 57 from either position by the action of centrifugal force when the strander is operating or otherwise. Since the spindles of the strander may not always all be equipped with spools or reels during the operation thereof, it is desirable that the unequipped as well as the equipped spindles be independent of the action of centrifugal force. As a further preventive means for retaining the handle 57 in its operative position when the spindle 38 is supporting a. spool, the depression 62 is provided with an undercut portion 65 as clearly indicated in Fig. 8 within which a tapered end 66 of the handle 57 moves upon dropping into the depression 62. Due to the action of the spring 52 to hold the tapered peripheral surface of the cap member 45, which is carried upon the spindle 36 in engagement with the core of the spool, and at the same time to move the sleeve 36 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 5 as far as it will freely move the tapered end 66 of the handle 57 is normally lodged under the undercut portion 65 of the depression 62 as clearly indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 8. If the spring 59 should break or tion of the strander the handle 57 would not move to release the spindle 36 from the spool due to the engagement of the tapered end thereof with the undercut portion 65 of the depression 62. The inside peripheral edge of the handle 57 is rounded, as is also the edge of the depression 63, which is a continuation of the inclined surface 61, so that when the handle is in its retracted position it is necessary only to bring it up out of the depression 63 and onto the inclined surface 61. lVhen loading the strander, the operator merely pulls lightly upon the handle in a plane parallel to the inclined surface 61 until it drops into the depression 62. \Vhen removing a spool from the strander the handle 57 is first pulled to the left' as vie-wed in Fig. 8 until the lever 56 engages the end of the cam slot 55, which movementbrings the tapered end of the handle 57 from engagement with the under cut portion 65 of the depression 62, thereafter the handle 57 is pulled at right angles to the first movement until the inside end thereof may be placed upon the inclined surface 61, after which it may be moved thereon until it is latched in the depression 63.

The inner end of the lever 56 is entered within an opening 70 formed in the sleeve 36 and is firmly affixed therein by a screw 71 having an elongated portion 72 through an opening 73 in the lever 56, the screw 71 being threaded into the wall of the sleeve 36. The extreme inner end of the lever 56 is provided with a reduced portion in the form of a key 74 which rides in a longitudinal slot or keyway 75 formed in the peripheral surface of the spindle 38, which causes the spindle 38 to move with the sleeve 36 when the lever 56 is shifted. As will be observed from Figs. 5 and 6 the keyway 75 is of such a length that the resiliently mounted spindle 38 may be moved longitudinally, independently of the sleeve 36 to accommodate itself to slight variations in the width of the supply spools 25. The spindle 24, illustrated in Fig. 7, is used for supporting the opposite side of the supply spool andis provided with an anti-friction roller bearing 43 and a tapered cap member 45 for engaging the core of the spool, these parts being similar to the corresponding parts of the adjustable spindle just described; but the spindle upon which they are gecured is aflixed to a housing 77 by a screw Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate in detail a guide pulley 28 and an improved guard 80 associated therewith for retaining 'a strand 81 being drawn from the supply spool 25 thereon. The guard 80 comprises a pair of spring steel arms82, one at each side of the guide pulley and suitably secured at their inner ends about the axis thereof upon the arm itl passing 27. At their outer ends the arms 82 are each provided upon its inside face with a stud 84 having a rounded outer end, and the rounded outer ends of the lugs are normally in engagement as illustrated in Fig. 2.

A yieldable split guard of this type is very etlicient in that it is not necessary to thread the strand through an opening as is usual in guide pulleys provided with some types of guards. In threading a stranding machine wherein the guide pulleys are equipped with yieldable split guards, the operator merely pressesthe strand between the two engaging rounded ends of the lugs 81 and the arms 82 yield, the strand passing therebetwecn and into position upon the guide pulley.

'hat is claimed is:

1. In a spindle, a support therefor, means for shifting the Spindle uponsaid support, said means upon movement cooperating with said support to shift the spindle thereon, a member movable relatively to said means, and a resilient element cooperating with said member for maintaining said means in a set position.

2. In a spindle, a support therefor, the spindle adapted to-be moved longitudinally thereon into a plurality of positions, means operatively connected to the spindle and upon movement cooperating with the support to shift the spindle thereon, a member movable relatively to said means, and a resilient element cooperating with said member for maintaining said means in a set position.

3. In a spindle, a support therefor having a cam surface, means for shifting said spindle upon said support comprising a member operatively connected to the spindle and upon its. movement cooperating with said cam surface toshift said spindle, and an element associated with said member normally tensioned to cooperate with said cam surface for retaining said spindle in a shifted position.

4. A support fora spool comprising a spindle, a support therefor, said spindle provided with a conical shaped end adapted to engage the core of the spool, and means for shifting the spindle upon said support to engage or disengage the core of the spool, said means comprising a member operatively connected to the spindle and upon movement cooperating with said support to shift the spindle thereon, and a spring pressed element cooperating with said member for permitting its movement upon the relative movement thereof.

5. A support for a spool comprising a resiliently controlled spindle.a support therefor, said spindle provided with a conical shaped head adapted to resiliently engage the core of the spool, means for shifting the spindle upon said support to engage the core of the spool, said means comprising a member operatively connected to the spindle and upon movemmit cooperating with said support to shift the spindle thereon, and resiliently operated means associated with said member for permitting its movement upon the relative movement thereof.

6. A support for a spool comprising a spindle, a. support therefor, said spindle provided with a conical shaped head adapted to engage the core ofthe spool, means for shifting the spindle upon said support to engage the'core of the spool, said means comprising a member operativcly connected to the spindle and upon ll'lOYQll'lQllll cooperating with said support to shift. the spindle thereon, an element normally under tension cooperating with said support for holding it in one of a plurality of set positions, said spindle adapted to move independently of said shifting means relative to the core of the spool, and means for pressing said head against the core of the spool.

7. In a spool support, a plurality of spindle bearings adapted to engage the core of a spool for rotatably supporting the same, means for supporting said bearings, one of said bearings having a spindle adapted to be moved into a plurality of latehable positions, and means for moving said movable spindle comprising a spring pressed lever operatively connected to said spindle and operating in a cam slot formed in the support for the spindle.

8. In a spool support, a plurality of spindle bearings adapted to engage the core of a spool for rotatably supporting the same, means for supporting said bearings, one of said bearings having a spindle adapted to be moved longitudinally 1nto a plurality of latchable positions, means for moving said movable spindle comprising a lever operatively connected to said spindle and operating in a' cam slot formed in the support for the spindle, and a spring pressed handle for said lever cooperating with the cam slot to retain said spindle in any of its latchable positions.

9. In a spool support, a plurality of spindle bearings adapted to engage the core of a spool for rota-tably supporting the same,

means for supporting said bearings, one of said bearings having a spindle longitudinally movable upon its support, means for moving said movable spindle into a plurality of latchable positions, and a spring pressed handle for operating said means, said means operating in a cam slot formed in the supable positions.

10. In a spool support, a plurality of spindle bearings adapted to engage the core of a spool for rotatably supporting the same, means for supporting said bearings, one of said bearings comprising a sleeve longitudinally movable upon the support, a spring pressed spindle mounted for longitudinal movement in the sleeve, means for moving said spindle comprising a lever operatively connected to said sleeve andspindle and operating in a cam slot formed in the support for the sleeve, and aspring pressed handle for said lever cooperating with the cam slot to retain said spindle in any of its latohable positions.

11. In a spool support, a plurality of spindle bearings adapted to engage the core of a spool for rotatably supporting the same, means for supporting said bearings, one of said bearings comprising a. sleeve longitudinally'movable upon the support. a spindle adapted to be moved into a plurality of latchable positions and relatively movable in the sleeve in a longitudinal direction, means for moving said spindle comprising a lever aflixed to said sleeve and operatively connected to said spindle, said lever operating in a cam slot formed in the support for the sleeve, and a spring pressed handle for said lever cooperating with the cam slot to retain said spindle in any of its latchable positions.

12. In a spool support, a plurality of spindle bearings adapted to engage the core of a spool for rotatably supporting the same, means for supporting said bearings, one of said bearings having a spindle longitudinally movable upon its support, means for moving said spindle into a plurality of latchable positions, a spring pressed handle for operating said means, said means operating in a cam slot formed in the support for the spindle, the spring pressed handle cooperating with a plurality of depressions associated with the cam slot for retaining said spindle in any of its latchable positions, one

of the depressions provided with an undercut wall cooperating with a tapered end of the handle for retaining said spindle in its normal position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this day of July A. 1)., 1924.

HAROLD FRANK JONES. 

